Grade 12 English SOL Practice Test — Set 1 of 6

353 free Grade 12 English Virginia SOL practice questions drawn from official Virginia Department of Education released tests. Pick an answer to check it instantly, or open “Show answer” to review. No signup required.

  1. 1. This paragraph is mostly about a

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    Answer: B — group of tourists

  2. 2. In these sentences, the word crucial means

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    Answer: J — very important

  3. 3. Mark off your foul lines: Mark foul lines approximately five feet in front of the stakes at either end of the court. Tips to anchor the stakes more firmly: • Anchor stakes in a buried five-gallon bucket filled with quick-dry concrete. • Drill a hole through a small log, pound the stake into it, and bury the log so the stake is at the proper height and angle. Finally, Time to Play • Each player pitches two consecutive shoes at the same stake, totals the points, and pitches back to the other stake. Pitching to both stakes is called an inning. • Players must pitch from behind the foul line. • Experts recommend concentrating on the spot where the horseshoe should land while using an easy underhand motion. • Ringer (shoe encircling the stake): three points • Leaner (shoe leaning on the stake): one point • Shoe touching the stake or closest to the stake: one point • If both shoes land closer to the stake than the opponent’s closest shoe: two points • Pitching order may rotate, or the highest scorer may throw second. Games are usually played to 40 points, with extra innings to break ties. 3. Which of these is necessary to construct a horseshoe court? A a patch of lawn B a level surface C a bag of concrete D a plastic bucket 4. Which sentence should be included in a presentation about the proper way to pitch horseshoes? F The stake pits should be anywhere from four to eight inches deep, with the stake spot in the center of the rectangle. G Drive the stakes into the centers of their respective pits until they extend 14–15 inches above the pit surface. H Each player pitches two consecutive shoes at the same stake and then totals the points. J Experts recommend concentrating on the spot where the horseshoe should land while using an easy underhand motion. 5. Based on the section “Tips to anchor the stakes more firmly,” the reader may best infer that A players risk injury from unanchored stakes B stakes that are not anchored may shift during play C concrete is the only effective anchoring method D stakes must be anchored by official rules 6. The organizational structure of the section “Finally, Time to Play” is best described as

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    Answer: J — listing or enumeration

  4. 4. According to the document, a full inning of play consists of

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    Answer: A — both players pitching at each stake

  5. 5. What section explains how to use loose dirt or sawdust as filler?

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    Answer: G — Follow these steps to construct a court

  6. 6. Which statement best expresses the main idea of this document?

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    Answer: C — Horseshoe pitching is an ancient sport that is easy to set up and play.

  7. 7. Which sentence supports the idea that there are variations to the rules of amateur play?

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    Answer: J — You can rotate pitching order or allow the highest scorer to throw second.

  8. 8. Which question is answered in this document?

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    Answer: D — Where can proper stakes be found?

  9. 9. The main purpose of this document is to

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    Answer: H — inform

  10. 10. Which additional visual information would be most helpful to the reader?

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    Answer: A — a diagram of a horseshoe court

  11. 11. Which information would be best to include in a presentation about the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America?

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    Answer: J — There are 6,000 members in league-sanctioned tournament play.

  12. 12. Which source would best help a reader evaluate the accuracy of this document?

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    Answer: A — official rules and regulations for horseshoes

  13. 13. This sentence contains an example of

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    Answer: H — metaphor

  14. 14. As used in paragraph 1, sharp reports means

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    Answer: C — abrupt, explosive noises

  15. 15. Paragraph 2 is mostly about the

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    Answer: F — typical sights and sounds on D Street

  16. 16. Which question is not answered in paragraph 4?

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    Answer: D — When the streets were crowded

  17. 17. Paragraph 5 suggests that Dan Kilkenny had

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    Answer: H — exceptional physical strength

  18. 18. In paragraph 5, effaced means

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    Answer: C — reduced to nothing

  19. 19. Which sentence best expresses the main idea of paragraphs 5 and 6?

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    Answer: J — Ice briefly relieved summer heat.

  20. 20. Which sentence contains an example of alliteration?

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    Answer: A — The wooden wagons were heavy and low-riding with loud rattling wheels.

  21. 21. In paragraph 6, comfort and nestled evoke images of

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    Answer: J — pleasure

  22. 22. Based on the selection, the reader may best infer that Lydia

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    Answer: B — had always lived in South Boston

  23. 23. Which statement best describes the theme of this selection?

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    Answer: G — Growing up involves expanding perspective.

  24. 24. Which word means the same as assertions in paragraph 1?

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    Answer: B — facts

  25. 25. Which best summarizes paragraph 2?

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    Answer: H — Brain size differs, but intelligence is similar.

  26. 26. The word talk is used

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    Answer: B — figuratively

  27. 27. Why does the author present Dr. Leonard Sax’s findings?

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    Answer: F — To establish credibility

  28. 28. Paragraph 6 suggests that

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    Answer: B — females develop verbal skills earlier

  29. 29. Which word means the same as proficiency?

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    Answer: G — skill

  30. 30. Why does the author compare historical and modern attitudes?

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    Answer: C — To show assumptions are misleading

  31. 31. Which best expresses the main idea of paragraph 7?

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    Answer: G — Expectations influence performance.

  32. 32. In paragraph 7, the author supports her view by

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    Answer: A — exposing contradictions in stereotypes

  33. 33. Which characteristic identifies this passage as a report?

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    Answer: H — factual information

  34. 34. Which website would be best for researching employment differences?

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    Answer: B — laborstatistics.com

  35. 35. What is the purpose of the simile in paragraph 3?

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    Answer: H — suggest harshness

  36. 36. The words humiliating, disgraceful, and shameful evoke a

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    Answer: D — bitter

  37. 37. Which question is not answered in paragraph 5?

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    Answer: J — Where the mule cart was going

  38. 38. Alleviating means to

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    Answer: C — lessen

  39. 39. Caleb George and Woodrow Hinnant are best described as

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    Answer: H — loyal companions

  40. 40. Miss Clara Barton’s character is revealed through

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    Answer: D — Henry’s description

  41. 41. Which sentence contains figurative language?

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    Answer: G — My salvation came in the form of a ministering angel.

  42. 42. Which image best illustrates a main focus of this selection?

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    Answer: A — Clara Barton tending wounded soldiers

  43. 43. Which sentence most clearly illustrates the time period?

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    Answer: J — She held lanterns so surgeons could work.

  44. 44. Which situation is ironic?

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    Answer: C — A professor learned survival from uneducated youths.

  45. 45. Which sentence best reflects Henry’s overall attitude toward war?

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    Answer: G — I am better suited to life as a professor.

  46. 46. Which sentence contains an allusion?

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    Answer: C — He slept like Rip Van Winkle.

  47. 47. Which keywords best help find information about applying to colleges?

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    Answer: J — college admissions

  48. 48. Which Internet source is best for information about Jack London’s life?

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    Answer: C — Jack London’s Collected Letters and Journals

  49. 49. Which website would be best for reliable information on different varieties of lemurs?

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    Answer: G — the research center

  50. 50. In paragraph 1, the words “rumbled,” “buzzed,” and “exploded” evoke images of —

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    Answer: C — activity

Grade 12 English SOL practice test — FAQ

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Yes — this Grade 12 English SOL practice test is completely free with no signup. Answer each question to check it instantly, or open "Show answer" to review.

How many Grade 12 English SOL practice questions are there?

Across all sets, there are 353 Grade 12 English practice questions drawn from official Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests. This set has 50.

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The questions are adapted from official VDOE released SOL tests for Grade 12 English. SOL Prep is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education.

Practice items adapted from Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests. Practice items are provided for study purposes and are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education.